FRC Blog 21 May 2014

[Rosiebotboss]

2015 FRC Registration Payment Due Date Moved
Blog Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - 12:49.2015 FRC Registration Payment Due Date Moved

At the 2014 Kickoff, we encountered some challenges in making sure all teams received their kits as expected either at their Kickoff location or via MySite shipment. In some cases, teams were missing major sets of Kickoff Kit items, such as entire totes or drive bases. Missing major sets of items like these did not happen to a high percentage of teams, but when something like this does happen, it’s obvious this can significantly impact a team’s schedule and their ability to be successful. A task force was formed, led by Toby Clarke, FRC Program Manager, to review these issues and come up with an action plan.

Among issues such as winter weather delays and heavy holiday freight loads, leading to delivery uncertainties, it was also noted that kits were being delivered between Christmas and New Year’s day, when many Kickoff location facilities have limited staffing and little time to correct for issues before teams arrive for Kickoff. Also, our volunteer Kickoff Coordinators are stressed during this period, when many have other plans, to ensure all is ready for the big day.

In addition to putting better quality controls in place before kits are shipped so we can prevent issues from occurring in the first place, we want to give Kickoff Coordinators more time to review their shipment for any missing totes or drive bases, so corrections can be made before teams arrive. This requires we ship the kits earlier, which in turn requires us to move the Registration Payment Due date to November 24, 2014. This is approximately 11 calendar days earlier than in previous FRC seasons.

We recognize fundraising is a challenge for teams, and we do not make this decision lightly. However, we believe this change will help ensure all teams have the best possible start to their build season. We wanted to be sure to tell you now about this change so you have plenty of time to plan accordingly for the upcoming season. Currently we do not plan to make any other changes to the traditional registration schedule starting in September.

Frank



http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...yment-Due-Date

[AllenGregoryIV]

Reasonable change and he took the time to explain why it was happening. Frank and the whole FRC headquarters team are awesome.

[Tristan Lall]

Sounds like a good change to me. Hopefully this also remedies the problem of (some) non-U.S. teams receiving kit items weeks late.

[Brandon Holley]

As a kickoff coordinator for the past 6 years, this is definitely going to be a big relief.

The past 2 years especially have been chaotic receiving our kits of parts, with me and others scrambling to track down the kits the day before kickoff, calling in favors and generally looking extremely unorganized. I always asked WHY we needed to cut it this close and I'm glad Frank and co. have seen the same.

Definitely a good change.

-Brando

[jeser#1772]

In our case (1772),this is not good, but this would be good news if the registration dates also initiate 11 days before, Whereas we can only begin the process of sponsorship after knowing where we go, it will make us lost 11 days of a process that is already slow here in Brazil

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by jeser#1772

In our case (1772),this is not good, but this would be good news if the registration dates also initiate 11 days before, Whereas we can only begin the process of sponsorship after knowing where we go, it will make us lost 11 days of a process that is already slow here in Brazil

Registration last year opened September 26. Payment was due December 6. Pulling the due date forward by 11 days while leaving registration alone would still give you 60 days. I have no clue how slow your "process" is, but that seems like plenty of time to me.

Are you without sponsors until you sign up for a regional competition? Do you not have funding before you register?

[jeser#1772]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I have no clue how slow your "process" is

is difficult to explain how things work here, send money abroad, the dollar variation, etc.. but to get an idea just knowing that within 20 days we will have the FIFA World Cup and we still have a lot to be done ("lot" means that we are not ready)

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Are you without sponsors until you sign up for a regional competition? Do you not have funding before you register?

in the last 10 years, only in the last 2 we had sponsorship for initial registration before it

Originally Posted by jeser#1772

is difficult to explain how things work here, send money abroad, the dollar variation, etc.. but to get an idea just knowing that within 20 days we will have the FIFA World Cup and we still have a lot to be done ("lot" means that we are not ready)

in the last 10 years, only in the last 2 we had sponsorship for initial registration before it

I'm sure that if our friends in Brazil need help getting enough funds for registration, the FIRST community will be able to help out.

[jeser#1772]

Originally Posted by Andrew Lawrence

I'm sure that if our friends in Brazil need help getting enough funds for registration, the FIRST community will be able to help out.

thanks Andrew

but the problem here is that all Brazilian teams always work with the minimum possible and always with many difficulties, and this was never a problem because be part of the FRC is something incredibly good

1772 is fine, our problem is more time.

What makes me sad is that teams like 4916 4937 and 4900, could not reached even the minimum.

[Conor Ryan]

Speaking of kickoff, I'm looking for an archive of 2014 Kickoff Locations, I can't seem to find it, anyone have a list?

EDIT: It turns out if you search this way: http://www3.usfirst.org/whats-going-on you can view old venues

[sanddrag]

For school purchasing departments, this is extremely helpful to know now for budgeting purposes. Thanks for the early heads up.